At least one person dead and several missing in tragic luxury yacht sinking off Sicily – Metro World News

Strong gusts of wind, probably similar to a tornado, would be the explanation for the tragic Sinking of a luxury yacht in the port of Porticello, very close to Palermo on the coast of Sicily. At least one person was killed in the shipping accident and six others are still missing.

According to the Italian Coast Guard 15 people were rescued and taken to relief centers.

According to the Telegraph from London One of the missing people is British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, His wife Angela Bacares is one of those rescued.

How did the yacht sink?

Local media reported that a sudden and violent storm, During the night, the area was hit by heavy rain, including downpours.

The boat allegedly capsized around 5 a.m. with 22 people on board, including 10 crew members and 12 passengers of American, British and Canadian nationality.

The ship was named Bayesian, flew the British flag, was 56 metres (184 feet) long and featured a 75-metre (246-foot) mast, one of the tallest aluminium masts in the world. On its website, it was offered for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) per week.

A ship captain who was very close to the Bayesian told the Telegraph that after the storm “The yacht was no longer there.” He also reported seeing a red flare and then a lifeboat with a woman and a minor.

The rescue teams discovered parts of the ship at a depth of 50 meters.

The people who were not rescued were one crew member and six passengers. According to the coast guard, there is also a minor among them, according to British media.

What characteristics did the yacht have?

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian company Perini Navi offered space for 12 passengers in four double cabins, one triple cabin and one suite, in addition to crew accommodation, according to Charter World and Yacht Charters.

The ship left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on August 14 and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday afternoon, with the navigation status “at anchor,” according to the tracking application Vesselfinder.